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Now Taking Reservations: Western prepares to open doors of new student apartments

Now Taking Reservations: Western prepares to open doors of new student apartments

April 4, 2012 (by Laura Anderson, "Gunnison Country Times") — Western State College’s latest construction undertaking, the Pinnacles student apartment complex, is now taking reservations for students interested in being the first to live there when the building opens next fall.

According to director of residence life Ed Klein, tours were offered last week of one completed, four-bedroom apartment to give students a feel for the new living spaces. Returning students can enter into a drawing for room assignments for all on-campus housing beginning today.

Klein said some students are returning to life on campus.

“We’ve had students that lived off campus last year returning on campus this year,” he said, which he believes is a result of the new building and reduced prices for on-campus housing.

According to Klein, prices for Chipeta apartments have been reduced. He also said that the college is striving to price the new apartments reasonably.

“We have looked to make our pricing in the Pinnacles as competitive as possible with pricing that students might find off campus,” he said. “My feedback from students who have looked at it is that we’ve been successful.”

The Pinnacle Apartments will cost between $2,400 and $3,000 per semester — which, based on a nine-month academic calendar, breaks down to approximately $530 to $665 per month.

The Pinnacles contain fully furnished, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, complete with one to two bathrooms, a living room and a full kitchen. The 54-apartment complex will accommodate up to 226 residents. The apartments will be available to all non-freshmen.

The building will house study rooms, a computer lab and game rooms in addition to student residences.

“There will also be a green house on one side of the building that will be utilized in a shared effort with student groups on campus and a community group that is involved in community gardening,” said Klein.

The $16 million project, which included the demolition of Keating, Coronado and Beckwith Halls, is slated to be complete before the fall 2012 semester.